'I almost died that day,' says man who left son in parking lot after passing out from heroin

A Lehigh Township man who left his 3-year-old son unattended in a parking lot after snorting heroin and passing out escaped Wednesday with a county prison sentence.

At 34, Richard Kohler II has a lot of problems: hepatitis-C, mental health disorders of anxiety and depression, and a criminal record for theft and drug charges. But after his May arrest in Bethlehem, he sought treatment on his own, got back on his medications and says he wants to be a better father.

Before Northampton County Judge Paula Roscioli, Kohler faced sentencing guidelines that could have sent him to a state penitentiary for up to 16 months. But Roscioli instead allowed him to serve a shorter term in Northampton County Prison, handing him nine to 23 months in jail and three years of probation.

The sentence came as Kohler pleaded guilty in October to endangering the welfare of a child, and as he won praise even from the case's prosecutor for the steps he has taken to turn his life around.

"It appears that Mr. Kohler may have gotten it this time," said Assistant District Attorney Anthony Casola.

On the evening of May 8, Bethlehem police found Kohler's son running alone in a South Side parking lot. Officers had been called to the scene in the 100 block of East Third Street for a report of someone passed out, according to court records.

"I almost died that day," Kohler told Roscioli, "and when I woke up in prison the next day and realized what I had done, I almost wished I had."

Defense attorney Gregory Spang said Kohler has struggled with addiction for nearly 15 years, and had relapsed to drugs after a long period of sobriety. That led to his latest troubles with the law, Spang said, which also included charges in Lehigh County for drug possession and shoplifting.

Spang said his client realizes the danger he placed his son in.

"I don't think anything in anybody's life can be more of a wake-up call," Spang said, later adding: "I believe we see a new Richard Kohler."

The child's mother, Lisa Chuck, also spoke in court on Kohler's behalf, saying her son loves his father. Chuck asked Roscioli to spare Kohler, saying that the boy would be devastated if he was taken away.

Roscioli made Kohler eligible for work release, but told Chuck that the defendant had to serve time in jail.

"It is in no way with the thought process of punishing your son, but protecting him and other people," Roscioli said.

To Kohler, the judge warned that if he is arrested again, he'll end up in state prison.

"I can't ignore that you made a choice that day, and you chose drugs over your child," she said.